Camp at Little Molas Lake

Durango, CO
5.0
3 Reviews
Camp at Little Molas Lake
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Details

Distance
1 miles
Elevation Gain
40 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back

Features

Groups
Dog Friendly
Ada Accessible
Lake
Forest
Wildlife
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About this place

Added by Brittany Weber

This primitive campground offers amazing views year-round and sits between Silverton and Durango in the San Juan Mountains. With access to the Colorado Trail and views from Molas Pass, it's truly hard to beat.

Little Molas Lake Campground is about 1 mile off of US Highway 550 on Molas Pass just North of and on the other side of the highway from the Molas Overlook. Pro-tip: there is also another campground nearby called Molas Lake Park Campground, so it's important to distinguish which you are headed to beforehand.

The Little Molas Lake area is very high in elevation, with Coalbank and Molas passes reaching above 10,000 feet. Facilities are set in alpine and subalpine settings so you can expect and plan for unpredictable weather - snow and hail are common during summer thunderstorms. I suggest checking the weather and preparing for the worst just in case!

The unpaved road leading to this free and primitive campground is passable by 2WD passenger cars. Little Molas Lake features 10 campsites: 4 are double, 3 have hitching rails for stock animals, and 5 will accommodate RVs. Campers are limited to a 14 day stay as it is in most Forest Service campgrounds.

The campsites all have fire grates, but no tables. There are several spots where people have attempted to make dispersed campsites, but these are not recognized by the Forest Service and are detrimental to the land, so please refrain from using these sites if the campground is full - which may be the case during the busy season or on weekends. There is no drinking water or trash service offered so it's important to be prepared and to pack out what you pack in. Leave No Trace ethics are especially important in riparian environments as many damaging effects cannot be easily reversed here. It's also important to keep your food secure at night and when it is unattended as it can attract wildlife in the area.

There are toilets in the campground and at the trailhead for the Colorado Trail, but they are only available seasonally so I suggest being prepared! The trailhead for the Colorado Trail is located just past the campground, and has parking for both cars and horse trailers. The CT offers a wide variety of use from hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, mountain biking, etc. Parking for fishing and day use is offered near the lake.

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
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Crystal Sibson
8/14/2020
Nice Place to Camp
The scenery at little Molas Lake is breathtaking. The site is primitive so you won't find any amenities, but the location is ideal.
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Mike Loekle
8/8/2019
Phenomenal Campground
Camped there in the fall of 2016 and really can't wait to go back. The views are unparalleled and front door access to ...
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Brittany Weber
3/11/2016
Heaven on Earth
When I camped here it was one day before the first big snow storm hit and it was absolutely breathtaking, even with the cold ...
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